A JUDGE agreed that parts of Macclesfield were plagued by "alcohol fuelled incidents" as he refused an appeal to open an off-licence in Bond Street.

And the news was welcomed by protesters, who arrived at Chester Crown Court en masse after travelling from Macclesfield in convoy by coach and in cars in a display of dogged solidarity.

Recorder of Chester Judge Elgan Edwards upheld the decision of Macclesfield magistrates in April to reject the application.

The crown court heard that 461 residents had signed a petition against the proposed store, and many members of the action group filled the public gallery.

Judge Edwards said: "We consider that in the exercise of our discretion, coupled with the fact we accept there is an ongoing problem in this area from alcohol fuelled incidents, it is necessary to protect the public in that particular area of Macclesfield from nuisance and disorder, that this particular appeal should be dismissed."

Par vez Saleem, who bought the Bond Street Post Office in February of this year, said he planned to turn it into his third Boozer in the town, run by his 19-year-old nephew Hassan Shahbaz.

Barrister Stephen Knapp, for the applicants, said that, in the face of such objections, they were prepared to make certain concessions to appease the residents.

"We would be quite happy to limit it to wines and beer, not spirits which we are all aware are very popular with youngsters," he said.

"There is no police objection to this, but if it is considered that these premises would somehow be to the detriment of the area, we are quite happy to undertake not to sell alcohol on these premises after 9pm. It is an attempt at an olive branch, but a realistic one.

"Concerns have been raised about the traffic. We are not experienced with the area, but again the authorities didn't object to it and these premises have been open as retail premises. The alcohol doesn't produce the traffic.

"A substantial number of objectors have come forward and they are raising issues we would say are not directly related to alcohol."

Mr Saleem told the court that less than 15 per cent of the shop space would be used for the sale of alcohol, and that they would change the name of the store from Boozer to either Londis or Cost-Cutter Convenience.

But Judge Edwards was sceptical of the reasons behind the sudden concessions.

"If the applicant's motive was to open a convenience store with alcohol forming a small proportion of that retail outlet, why haven't the premises opened and run as a convenience store since February?

"We consider that the evidence indicates that the intention here is to have an off-licence, which means that the matter has been put before the lower court, and now before us, on a false basis."

Cheshire County Councillor Ken Edwards, who produced photographs showing the numbers of parked cars in the area, and litter lining the streets.

Coun Edwards also handed forward the petition, letters from the owners of two nearby retirement homes, and one from Macclesfield MP Sir Nicholas Winterton - all of which shared concerns about a possible increase in alcohol related disorder.

Renee Gregory, who lives opposite the site, said: "The proposed new off-licence will have a severe detrimental effect on the residents of Bond Street and the nearby vicinity.

"We feel traffic will inevitably increase. Bond Street is a very long street and at night it's absolutely horrendous with cars going down the street at 60mph.

"Youths already do gather on the wall that's part of the proposed property. It's already intimidating to residents to go out at night when these youths are present."

Those views were backed up by both Ian Bailey and Penny Howard, who felt that an extra 2,000 students coming to Macclesfield when the proposed Learning Zone opens would only "exacerbate an existing problem".

Mark Morrison, who lives next to the store with his wife and three children, said: "We are nearly all of the opinion that our neighbourhood does not need another licensed premises.

"The media, both nationally and locally, are often full of horror stories related to alcohol. Many residents of many communities live in fear of youths under the influence of alcohol.

"These fears are even more significant to my elderly neighbours who feel absolutely powerless and helpless.

"We live in fear and dread of what may be waiting for us in the future if this licence is granted."

Speaking outside the court, Mr Edwards praised the "determination and commitment that demonstrated the community spirit of the Bond Street residents".